Temporary houses are being built in Kinchaung village in the restive northern Arakanese town of Maungdaw; but they are not for Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence – this time the emergency shelters are for Arakanese Buddhist refugees who have escaped persecution in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Rangoon authorities have warned land owners that they must seek official permission before erecting new buildings in Burma’s commercial capital or risk legal action, in an attempt to clamp down on illegal construction projects.

Foreign trade during the past three months in Burma increased by more than US$ 600 million when compared to the same period last year; however, the surge in imports has resulted in a US$ 800 million trade deficit